Anybody ever put NOS/vintage tubes in ampeg SVT 4 pro?

[kdjord]

Just curious. I yanked out the 3 original preamp tubes last night and they are dirt cheap sovteks, a much maligned tube at least amongst the 6 string guitar crowd.

So I'm really wondering if dropping in some nice old glass like mullards or RCA black plates would make me smile?

[JimmyM]

Yes, but I'd only try the really expensive tubes in V1 and just get basic NOS tubes like RCA gray plates or Sylvanias for the other slots. However, I think Sovteks get a bad reputation just because they're inexpensive. I think they're fine tubes myself. Not as good as NOS but better than most new production tubes.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Yes, but I'd only try the really expensive tubes in V1 and just get basic NOS tubes like RCA gray plates or Sylvanias for the other slots. However, I think Sovteks get a bad reputation just because they're inexpensive. I think they're fine tubes myself. Not as good as NOS but better than most new production tubes.

+1 I agree with Jimmy there are so many cheaper tubes that sound really great but they get bashed so people overlook them. I have a nice NOS vintage RCA Black plate in my Mesa and it cost me plenty but it doesn't sound that much better than a cheaper NOS GE tube?. I started tube rolling last year and I have a collection of vintage Mullard's,TeleFunken's, Rayteheon's ,GE's,Sylvania's etc and I was paying stupid amounts of money until my new tube guy talked about cheaper lesser known tubes that sound just as good like the Sovteks,Sylvania's and GE tubes and even some of the Chinese tubes sound great.

[Ben B]

I tried some NOS RCA tubes in my 3 pro which is similar to the 4 pro. I couldn't hear a difference between them and the groove tubes that came with it.

[kdjord]

Originally Posted by Ben B

I tried some NOS RCA tubes in my 3 pro which is similar to the 4 pro. I couldn't hear a difference between them and the groove tubes that came with it.

I totally believe you. Some circuits just aren't sensitive to tube changes and others it is like night or day. Or maybe you wouldn't notice the difference unless you pushed the preamp into clipping. But looking inside of the 4 pro, there is a whole lot going on besides those 3 tubes. Regardless, I am still going to give it a try. I might get better tone just by virtue of replacing worn tubes with stronger tubes.

Originally Posted by mjac28

+1 I agree with Jimmy there are so many cheaper tubes that sound really great but they get bashed so people overlook them. I have a nice NOS vintage RCA Black plate in my Mesa and it cost me plenty but it doesn't sound that much better than a cheaper NOS GE tube?. I started tube rolling last year and I have a collection of vintage Mullard's,TeleFunken's, Rayteheon's ,GE's,Sylvania's etc and I was paying stupid amounts of money until my new tube guy talked about cheaper lesser known tubes that sound just as good like the Sovteks,Sylvania's and GE tubes and even some of the Chinese tubes sound great.

Who's your new tube guy?

[Will Kelly]

It will depend on the preamp.

When a buddy of mine (who is also a TB member)and I both had the same Demeter preamps we would sit around, drink coffee, and swap tubes. We tried everything (mullards, RCA's , Sylvania, Telefunken's, you name it), and some tubes made the amp sound like a totally different animal.

You will only know if you try.